The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has said that while the court process against the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, is ongoing, they are also exploring political and other means to secure his release for peace to reign in the South East.
He stated this while speaking virtually at the special edition of “The Ben Kalu’s Mandate”, a radio programme of FLO FM, Umuahia, Abia State on Monday.
The clarification came on the heels of an enquiry by the programme anchor, Wisdom Thomas, about the Peace In South East Project (PISE-P) which was recently launched by the deputy speaker which called for a non-kinetic measure to resolve the security challenges in the South East.
Kalu, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, said it was deliberate to work behind the scenes to realise the objective of securing the release of the outlawed IPOB leader.
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He said: “The Peace in South East Project (PISE-P) has reconciliation in the mix of what we are trying to achieve. We recognize the importance of our brother, Nnamdi Kanu, in the peace agenda we are pushing. That’s the truth.
“And I have been very vocal about it. I am not hiding it. I have always told people that I will never deny Nnamdi Kanu. He’s my brother. We come from the same place and I will never be happy having him incarcerated when we can have him out and increase our pursuit towards peace.
“But we may not advance all the things we are doing backdoor but I can assure you that all the powers-that-be in this country know that people like us are not sitting on the fence. I don’t know about the next person but I am talking about Benjamin Okezie Kalu. I am not sitting on the fence about it. I am lobbying.
“We cannot go about this before the court. I am more interested in using a political solution towards resolving this. So, I am asking for one or two things from the federal government.”
The deputy speaker also assured that the South East Development Commission (SEDC) Bill would scale through and give the region a cause to pursue its developmental objectives.
He said, “The last time I was with Mr. President, I discussed with Mr. President on the need for the elders of Igbo land to come, sit and engage with him. And I know that one of the topics that will come up there is this our brother and also SEDC. We will also thank him for all the good things, the appointments he has been giving to Igbo people.”
